TALES OF HONDURAS AND MOST POPULAR LEGENDS

Within the stories of Honduras are included a whole series of stories where historical, religious and daily life elements of this nation are combined. Their stories rooted in popular fervor make them everlasting.

Tales from Honduras

The legends and tales of Honduras are a succession of stories that had their origin from the mythical chronicles that began to spread throughout that nation. In such a way that a particular description cannot be given regarding these notions, since each subject provides their own definition depending on how close they have been to them.

What we want to point out is that obviously hearing a legend from Honduras when you are an infant will not have the same influence as when you reach adulthood, since the accumulation of experiences that we have obtained in that period is greater, so The meaning we give to those stories will be totally different.

Certainly the number of classic Honduran stories is not as large as that of other countries (Mexico, Peru or Chile). Even so, if we take a minute to specifically examine these chronicles, we will quickly verify that they are narratives of astonishing quality, since they are in charge of disseminating popular thought.

For example, only some know that the Mayan civilization expanded to the western region of Honduras. Perhaps the biggest dilemma we have encountered when it comes to collecting legends and short stories from Honduras is that there are few primary sources from which to start.

This is primarily due to the fact that the Spanish burned or simply destroyed most of the codices that included the myths. Therefore, the only way in which some of them could be rescued was thanks to the participation of some chroniclers, who through their voice were able to spread the word to a greater number of people. Now is the time to start with the tales of Honduras.

Popular Honduran Stories

Popular wisdom, the set of elements that make up daily life, as well as the simplicity of the shared stories have allowed the Popular Tales of Honduras to be maintained over time.

Tales from Honduras El Sisimite

The story of the Sisimite tells the story of a grotesque and immense creature that retains an extraordinary resemblance to another giant that roams the forests of North America. Obviously we are alluding to “Big Foot.” In some stories, this beast has also been called Itacayo. One could comment that the Sisimite has the appearance of a huge gorilla, only its fur is much thicker.

It has been seen in forested places that are very far from civilization. People have pointed out that the place where they spend the night is in hollow, icy caves. It primarily eats fruits and usually comes out for walks at dusk, wandering freely across the highest peaks of Honduran soil.

One of the stories I heard about this being greatly attracted my attention, since, according to tradition, the Sisimite frequently appears in inhabited areas looking for the most beautiful woman in the town. Once he has found her, he kidnaps her and takes her to the most inaccessible summit, with the aim of her being his companion. Certain residents of forested areas assured me that on one occasion, a girl was able to slip away from the clutches of the beast.

It is said that once the Sisimite realized the woman’s evasion, he followed her without pause until he was able to corner her on the bank of a river. However, that obstacle was no problem and he swam against the current until he reached the other side.

When she was finally safe, the woman stopped to catch her breath as she watched the beast looking at her with its eyes full of fury. On the other hand, Sisimite is strongly related to the god Chac, who is shown in various texts that talk about the Mayan culture.

The Ghost Wagon

At the beginning of the previous century, a rancher was found dead in a cart he owned. The subject was known to be someone who was practically unscrupulous and whenever he found the opportunity, he took advantage of the good disposition of others.

Therefore, no one was surprised that the reason for his death was due to several stab wounds he received in the back. The funeral was carried out by the municipality, since this individual had no close relatives. It is worth highlighting the fact that the cart had been abandoned for years in the place where the events occurred.

It wasn’t until later that people began to share stories about how the cart traveled the streets at night, without a driver. Others point out that in said vehicle, souls in pain or terrors were carried in order to frighten passers-by, so that, in such a way, the souls of the innocent would be immediately guided to hell.

On the other hand, when we talk about gloomy stories like the one we have just told you, we must add that short Honduran legends for children are also shared about these topics, since what we want is to disseminate the events that happened, without emphasizing matters that may be related to terror.

The Dirty Water Mine

In a neighborhood near the Cececapa River, there lived a man who knew the precise location of the true “Dirty Water Mine.” The individual left his house every Friday and walked towards that place. No one knows the true reason for his strange behavior, and yet, what is known is that the man always carried a white hen and some Castile wax candles.

It is said that these elements were used in the preparation of a ceremony so that the protector of that mine would always be satisfied. One afternoon the individual’s daughter discreetly followed him, since she did not know what her father did every Friday. The girl hid behind some bushes and watched as her father performed her ritual.

Suddenly, from the bowels of the earth a whirlwind of fire emerged, which almost covered the young woman in flames. Frightened by what she had observed, she had no choice but to leave where she was hiding. Her father saw her and scolded her harshly, ordering her to never follow him again. After returning it to her house, the individual returned to the dirty water mine and continued with the sacrifice of the bird.

What everyone does not know is that, according to Honduran traditions, whoever kept the deity that guarded the mine happy would earn the right to face the golden lizard. A mythological creature that let whoever had performed the rituals remove a piece of its tail.

In another existing variant of this story, it is noted that this animal lived inside the mine and that, as with lizards, it had the ability to regenerate its tail at will.

Tales from Honduras La Sucia

This story occupies a privileged place within the most popular Honduran stories, beginning in this way. The dirty girl was a very beautiful girl who collaborated with her parents in the household chores. One of the tasks that she was frequently entrusted to her was to go to the river to clean the clothes.

As time went by, the young woman fell in love with a boy of good standing. Her boyfriend quickly went to ask for the young woman’s hand and the parents of the “dirty” girl gladly agreed, since they knew that with that wedding they would have assured the future of her daughter.

On the day of the wedding, the ceremony was taking place normally, until the priest asked the couple to give him their baptismal certificate. To everyone’s astonishment, the girl could not comply with this request, since she had never been baptized.

Upon learning of this, the priest immediately proceeded to annul the marriage, completely disregarding the prayers of the young woman’s parents. On her part, her boyfriend, upon realizing that the girl was not devout of the Catholic faith, immediately forgot about her.

Meanwhile, the “dirty” woman entered a state of horrible depression in which she did not want to eat or go out. Likewise, there are some who claim that that day the young woman went crazy, since from that moment on she never took off her wedding dress.

One day while she was washing clothes in the river, she heard other women saying that her ex-fiancé was about to get married. This news completely devastated her, so much so that the “dirty” girl ran as fast as she could until she reached the cliff, after which, without thinking much, she jumped into the void.

Since that tragic event, the inhabitants of Honduras say that, on the evenings of a full moon, a woman dressed in white makes her appearance, particularly along the banks of the rivers. She does not attack anyone, but she simply hopes to one day get back together with her boyfriend.

Appearance of the Virgin of Los Remedios

There are many interpretations about the appearance of The Virgin of Remedies, however today we write about one. The strange thing about the Honduran stories about the apparition of the Virgin is that it is not said that the Virgin was taken somewhere and that she returned to the place of the apparition as has happened in other cases.

For many this is because the Virgin worships Tómala, in which there is also a well of “miraculous waters” that heal diseases. This well was where she showed herself many years ago and is located a few steps from the church. Thousands of pilgrims come to the well to bathe or just moisten the sick area of ​​her body with its holy water in the faith of being healed.

The Virgin of Los Remedios de Tomala has two images; The most important is a modest image decorated with elegance that embellishes the main altar of the church and was acquired in Spain. And the “achieved” image is larger, more rustic and looks similar to a doll because of its wig.

It is said that the Virgin of Los Remedios was found by a peasant woman from Yamaranguila named Magdalena Lemus, in a sweetgum tree that was located in the place where the church tower is built today.

There was also an immense stone and beneath it a well. After the discovery, the Mayor decided to sell the water, but enigmatically the water in the well dried up and gushed further down, where the Virgin’s well is currently located. It was then understood that the water should not be commercialized since it is “holy water” for the people.

Many people claim that the Virgin with the baby Jesus in her arms was found next to the well of sacred water and there she took baths. The well is a great enigma, many claim to have been healed with its divine waters, and after a long time the well continues to emanate fresh water that, despite the inclement weather, has never dried up.

The rock that was above the well is still found in the same place, it is so huge that about 20 people can stand on it. Pilgrims ride it to contemplate the…